By Harold Brakspear, A.BJ.B.A. 



329 



St. Thomas a Becket's. Box. 



With the exception of the south aisle of the nave most of the 

 present walls are those of the original fourteenth century Church, 

 Which consisted of chancel with vestry on the north side, central 

 power, and nave with north aisle, and is said by the late Canon 

 (Jackson to have been built by the Bigod family, who were lords of 

 'the manor from Henry the Third's time to 14 Edward III. 1 



The chancel, which, as usual, was commenced first, has an early 

 three-light east window of trefoil-headed lancets which has been 

 considerably altered, especially internally. The priest's doorway 

 {is in the south wall, and of the same date. 



Unfortunately "the three gradual seats" of Aubrey's time have 

 (left no evidence of their existence. The window in the south wall 

 is a fifteenth century insertion. Externally, on the north side, are 

 remains of a window — presumably of the same date, over which is 

 I a small gable. 



H The vestry is entered from the chancel by a pointed doorway 

 j with fifteenth century door, and retains a small pointed window in 

 jthe north gable, now blocked up, and a small two-light square- 

 ' headed window of fifteenth century date in the east wall. 



The tower arches are original, and the original work of the 

 j fourteenth century continues up to the belfry stage. The projecting 

 ! spiral staircase on the north side is an addition of the next century, 

 { when the top of the tower was completed and the spire added. The 

 doorway from the Church — now blocked up — to this staircase is 

 i quite distinguishable through the plaster. 



The most interesting portion is the north aisle — the eastern bay 

 ; of which is stone-vaulted and has a three-light original window on 

 ! the north, but none on the east. The arcade is very massive for 

 i the style, especially as there is no evidence to show that there ever 

 , was any intention to vault any part of the aisle excepting the east 

 | bay. The arcade was built at twice, as shown by the junction in 

 the work over the centre pier and in the different sections of the 

 arch mouldings. On the exterior the angle buttresses remain at 



1 Jackson's Aubrey, p. 55. 



2 a 2 



